My Waterbox 90.3 Build

sas226

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Hey Folks, welcome to my Waterbox Marine X 90.3 build. This is going to be my first "big" saltwater tank. A little bit of history for you, I grew up having a few freshwater tanks run by my father (as does almost everyone in this hobby it seems aha). In 2012, I got back into aquariums and went into saltwater after a family member got into it. I started with a petco special 20g, had a couple clowns that unfortunately died from Brook not to long into it and the immediately planned on an upgrade to a 40g Petco tank about two months into my 20g. I had that one up for about 2 months then I made a really dumb decision and tore it all down, sold all the equipment off. Ended up really regretting that decision awhile later.

Fast-forward to January of 2019 decided to get back into it. Bought an IM Nuvo 20 and collected equipment over the next year and a half. I set it up, cycled and have had a pair of clowns in it since the start of September after setting it up the beginning of July. I was kind of rolling around the idea of a upgrade to something like a 40 cube in the next year or two if all went well with this. I found out Waterbox was coming out with the new line in the fall figured I'd check it out with the plan of getting a 40. Then I watched the reveal on Sept. 16th and somehow go convinced to do the 90.3 which is a 60g display, 25g sump. Ordered that before the livestream was even over. So here we are, my build thread for that new tank. Haven't heard anything on when it's shipping, hopefully soon. Unfortunately not a lot of pictures while I wait stuff to come but will update as frequently as I can. So here we go..


Equipment List:
  • Waterbox Marine X 90.3 System
  • Ecotech Vortech MP40QD x2
  • Ecotech Radion G5 Pro
  • InkBird Temperature Controller
  • BRS 300W Titanium Heater and 100W backup
  • Reef Octopus Varios-2 Return Pump
  • Reef Octopus INT110 Protein Skimmer
  • Marco ReefSaver Dry Rock
  • CaribSea FijiPink Dry Sand
Near Future:
  • ATO

Mid Future Upgrades:

  • Carbon Reactor

Long Term Upgrades:
  • Seneye Reef

Livestock List:
  • ORA Misbar Black Clownfish and some Black Photon Clownfish from my LFS
  • (TBD)

Unfortunately don't have a lot of pics while I wait for stuff so you guys can just get a pic on my two clowns and my previous tanks:

My 40G: T5s, MP10, Hydor Koralia, RO 110
A1wj_cvCYAAJcEM.jpg


My 20G: T5s, Two Hydor Koralia Nanos (Bad hair algae problem, actual live rock.. ewe, Hot take!) and my original two clowns.
AsWEFdoCMAId2-x (1).jpg


My 40G's two clowns, not pictured the Coral Beauty I had.
A3My0F_CEAAPW2G.jpg


My current two clowns:
120974828_797726557685493_6130755874880642783_n.jpg


Small video to test if I can upload videos and if it works. This is my current IM 20


 
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NCK

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Definitely setting yourself up for success with all the right equipment! Best of luck this go-around!!
 
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sas226

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Appreciate it! This is going to be the long haul one. For the last 8 years I never really stopped following along with stuff and was 90% sure I was going to get back in one day. Glad I am.
 
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sas226

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Called Waterbox today just for an update on everything. They told me the tank should ship end of this week, beginning of next. Awesome news.
 

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Following. This is the same set up that I am interested in lol. I was debating on the Marine X 60.2 (but it is only a 36g display).
 
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sas226

sas226

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Following. This is the same set up that I am interested in lol. I was debating on the Marine X 60.2 (but it is only a 36g display).
I did the same, I wanted something a little smaller to be honest I was hoping for something in the 40-45g + sump volume range. I got talked into this. Which isn't terrible, it's a 60g display and 25g sump but it's a little daunting as the biggest salt tank I've had before this was a 40. Anyway, in other news, guess what showed up today. Packed immaculately. I'll tell you one thing, that stand is almost as heavy as the tank.

122093724_371688290840293_4692502830279663243_n.jpg

122055280_347624523238095_8923402001768467810_n.jpg
 
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sas226

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Question for you folks, I'll be running two mp40s on the tank, what do you think for placement. I had always intended on one on either side. I could also do one on each side on the place glass. I haven't scaped or anything so options are all open. Thoughts?
 

ShepherdReefer

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Hey Folks, welcome to my Waterbox Marine X 90.3 build. This is going to be my first "big" saltwater tank. A little bit of history for you, I grew up having a few freshwater tanks run by my father (as does almost everyone in this hobby it seems aha). In 2012, I got back into aquariums and went into saltwater after a family member got into it. I started with a petco special 20g, had a couple clowns that unfortunately died from Brook not to long into it and the immediately planned on an upgrade to a 40g Petco tank about two months into my 20g. I had that one up for about 2 months then I made a really dumb decision and tore it all down, sold all the equipment off. Ended up really regretting that decision awhile later.

Fast-forward to January of 2019 decided to get back into it. Bought an IM Nuvo 20 and collected equipment over the next year and a half. I set it up, cycled and have had a pair of clowns in it since the start of September after setting it up the beginning of July. I was kind of rolling around the idea of a upgrade to something like a 40 cube in the next year or two if all went well with this. I found out Waterbox was coming out with the new line in the fall figured I'd check it out with the plan of getting a 40. Then I watched the reveal on Sept. 16th and somehow go convinced to do the 90.3 which is a 60g display, 25g sump. Ordered that before the livestream was even over. So here we are, my build thread for that new tank. Haven't heard anything on when it's shipping, hopefully soon. Unfortunately not a lot of pictures while I wait stuff to come but will update as frequently as I can. So here we go..


Equipment List:
  • Waterbox Marine X 90.3 System
  • Ecotech Vortech MP40QD x2
  • Aqua Illuminations AI Prime 16 HD x2
  • InkBird Temperature Controller
  • BRS 300W Titanium Heater and 100W backup
  • Reef Octopus Varios-2 Return Pump
  • Reef Octopus INT110 Protein Skimmer
  • Marco ReefSaver Dry Rock
  • CaribSea FijiPink Dry Sand
Near Future:
  • ATO

Mid Future Upgrades:
  • Aqua Illumination Hydra 32
  • Some sort algae reactor (Maybe?)

Long Term Upgrades:
  • Seneye Reef

Livestock List:
  • ORA Misbar Black Clownfish and some Black Photon Clownfish from my LFS
  • (TBD)

Unfortunately don't have a lot of pics while I wait for stuff so you guys can just get a pic on my two clowns and my previous tanks:

My 40G: T5s, MP10, Hydor Koralia, RO 110
A1wj_cvCYAAJcEM.jpg


My 20G: T5s, Two Hydor Koralia Nanos (Bad hair algae problem, actual live rock.. ewe, Hot take!) and my original two clowns.
AsWEFdoCMAId2-x (1).jpg


My 40G's two clowns, not pictured the Coral Beauty I had.
A3My0F_CEAAPW2G.jpg


My current two clowns:
120974828_797726557685493_6130755874880642783_n.jpg


Small video to test if I can upload videos and if it works. This is my current IM 20

















Super nice system.
 

MERKEY

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Question for you folks, I'll be running two mp40s on the tank, what do you think for placement. I had always intended on one on either side. I could also do one on each side on the place glass. I haven't scaped or anything so options are all open. Thoughts?
Excellent tank!

Most people place them on opposite ends, but it depends on what you want to keep also ;)
 
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sas226

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MPCReefer

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Can't wait to see more pics! I have a 110x on its way. Did you choose the classic 110INT Skimmer? Trying to finalize my equipment list, just curious on your thought process for the skimmer.
 
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sas226

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Funny, you have the same tank & 99% of the equipment I plan to buy in a month. Just waiting for Black Friday.

I’m very eager to watch your progress. Best of luck!!
Thanks! Hoping it all comes together soon.
Can't wait to see more pics! I have a 110x on its way. Did you choose the classic 110INT Skimmer? Trying to finalize my equipment list, just curious on your thought process for the skimmer.
I chose the 110INT. I ran it on a tank years ago and it worked great. Plus RO has great customer service. I was gonna go with a bubble magus curve 5 but after looking around a bit the customer service aspect turned me off. I went INT over say the ones with the DC pump just because it's half the price. If I end up needing a controllable pump I can always get another varios 2 and impellor and just swap it I believe. I looked around and anything from Nyos or Red Sea or any other company was just 80-100% more. Having used it before, I didn't want to ruin a good thing pretty much.
 

Patrick.S

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I have this on order too! I’d love it if you could post a picture or two of the sump.
 
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sas226

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Unfortunately the only picture I have of the sump is this one, the tank is still in box as I wait for the rest of the build to get here. My 20g and a bookshelf currently occupy the space assigned to this tank so can't really set it up at the moment and rather leave it safely packed. Soon as I get it out I'll definitely post more.
image0 (1).jpg
 
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sas226

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While I wait for stuff, been trying to get better pictures with my phone. This one is a little under exposed but better than what happens at default exposure levels
123140217_1724418904392675_5183057399101820086_n.jpg
 
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sas226

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Well dang, out of stock stuff is killing me. Waiting on the BRS titanium heaters to come back in. They've given me 3 different days in the past two weeks still nothing. Kind of a bummer.
 
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sas226

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Finally had my heaters ordered and delivered after being out of stock for what seemed like forever. BRS Titanium 300w and 100W.
 

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